The National Fraud Center and consulting firm Spectrum Gaming Group have formed an alliance to help governments and gaming companies regulate Internet gaming.
"This alliance with Spectrum gives the NFC access to resources and expertise that will allow us to significantly expand our presence in the gaming industry," said William Kisby, vice president of the National Fraud Center's gaming division.
"There is a tremendous need among both governments and gaming operators for the services that we can now deliver," he added. Initial focus will be in two areas: providing regulatory services to governments such as due diligence, auditing and other expert knowledge-based service in order to help regulate gaming and working with Internet gaming companies for self-regulation.
"At the moment there is not even a consensus among governments on how the industry will be regulated," said Spectrum founder Frederic Gushin. He added, "For example, the United States wants to prohibit online gaming while the rest of the world is moving toward regulation. Even if a country
does prohibit it, how do you enforce it?"
"Legitimacy and credibility are two important issues that need to be addressed," Kisby said. "We've already seen people who were rejected for casino or gaming licenses set up business on the Internet. By providing audits, testing games and software, conducting background checks and other regulatory services, we can create a level of confidence and trust that these games are conforming to whatever standards are established by governing bodies."
According to Gushin, several governments and private companies have contacted them for assistance, but was unable to reveal their names.
Spectrum Gaming Group, founded in 1993, is a full service international gaming consulting firm offering a variety of services to casino owners, developers, operators, regulators and Indian gaming commissions. The National Fraud Center is a founding member of the Internet Fraud Council and has extensive expertise in online fraud and risk management.